Timing valve mechanism for pneumatically actuated well pumping devices



Nov. 26, 1957 2,814,310

F. A. LOWER TIMING VALVE MECHANISM FOR PNEUMATICALLY ACTUATED WELL PUMPING DEVICES Filed Dec. 18, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

TIMING VALVE NIECHANISM FOR PNEUMATI- CALLY ACTUATED WELL PUMPING DEVICES Fredrick A. Lower, Wichita Falls, Tex., assignor to Lee Gilbert, Wichita Falls, Tex.

Application December 18, 1950, Serial No. 201,369 2 Claims. (Ql. 137-62525) This invention relates to improvements in timing mechanisms for pneumatic pumps, and more particularly to timing valve mechanisms for pneumatically operated pumps for deep wells, which pumps combine both positive displacement and jet aeration.

Various pneumatic pumps have been proposed heretofore, but these, for the most part, have been complicated in construction, and require piston and the like to perform the pump-function and thus were subject to wear and were short lived.

The pumps associated with the timing mechanism of present invention involve two principles, one of positive displacement of liquid by pneumatic pressure on the surface thereof to cause the liquid to flow to the top of the well, and the other to cause a jetting and aeration of the liquid into the displacement cylinder at the end of the positive displacement stroke which will jet and aerate the fluid below the standing valve into, and to a certain extent, through the liquid displacement cylinder.

An object of this invention is to provide a pneumatically operable toggle action valve switching mechanism that prevents the valve mechanism from becoming positioned on dead center.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a timing mechanism for a pneumatic lift pump having a valve mechanism arranged to exert a pneumatic pressure upon the upper surface of a head of liquid in the displacement chamber for a predetermined time, then automatically switching the pressure from the upper surface of the liquid and discharging the pneumatic fluid under pressure to a point below the incoming liquid to jet and aerate the same, thereby performing a double function within the system.

In the present device, the term pneumatic fluid is to be understood to include air and the various other gases of a non-liquid character at operating temperatures and pressures.

With these objects in mind, and others that will manifest themselves as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a deep well pump installed within a deep well and showing the valve mechanism and the diagrammatic piping arrangement leading to the pump and showing the liquid flow line leading therefrom;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the valve housing, valve actuating mechanism and the valve actuator, with parts broken away and shown in section, to show the details of construction;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the valve casing with the slide valve shown in an alternate position from that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the toggle member taken at right angles to that as shown in Fig. 2, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower end States Patent fifice pipes 17, 19, 19a,

matic fluid therethrough. The pneumatic 2,814,310 Patented Nov. 26, 1957 of the pneumatic fluid jet piping, valve therein.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numetal 1 designates a deep well having a tubing 2 therein, with a T member 3 on the upper end thereof. The T member 3 has a fitting 4 in the upper end thereof to which a fluid outlet line 5 is attached on one side, and a secondary tubing 6 is attached below the fitting 4 so the passages 5 and 6 will be in communication. The tubing 2 is supported on a bar 2a and carries a displacement cylinder 7 on the lower end thereof, which cylinder has a seat 8 of the usual tapered form in the lower end thereof, in which a tapered, complementary seating member 9 engages.

The tubing 2 carries a valve arrangement comprising a standing valve 10, a holding valve 11 and a perforated intermediate section 12. A tubular projection 13 extends downward from displacement cylinder 7 and carries a perforated fluid supply pipe 14 on the lower end thereof and in communication with valves and 11, through opening 15 disposed axially in seating member 9.

A pneumatic system comprising a pump 16 is connected with an air supply pipe 17 leading to a valve housing 18 in which a multiplicity of ports are disposed and to which 20 and 21 are connected. The valve housing has a slide piston valve therein and has piston elements 23, 24, 25 and 26 formed on a connecting rod 27 at spaced intervals therealong, defining chambers 28, 29 and 30 between adjacent piston valve members.

The connecting rod 27 carries an adjustable clevis 31 on the outer end thereof which has a pin 32 therethrough and through a slot 33. A screw bolt 34 is provided in an end of slot 33 to adjust the effective length of said slot formed in toggle lever 35. The toggle lever 35 is pivoted at its lower end on pin 36, which pin 36 is positioned through upright standards 37 that are mounted on base 38. The upright standards 37 extend upwardly from the base 38 and have a cross bar 39 on the upper end thereof in which a hole 49 is formed to receive a toggle pin 41 therethrough.

The toggle lever 35 has a hole formed in the upper end thereof through which a pin 42 passes to pivotally secure clevis 43 thereto. Toggle pin 41 threadably engages clevis 43 and has an adjusting nut 44 thereon to adjust the tension of spring 45 which is interposed between the upper side of nut 44 and the lower side of cross bar 39.

The toggle lever 35 has a second slot 46 disposed therein. A clevis 47 having a pin 48 positioned therethrough and through slot 46, forms a lost motion connection with the lever 35 and the effective length of the slot 46 may be adjusted by screw bolts 49 and 50. The clevis 4-7 is threadably secured to a valve mechanism actuator rod 51 which connects with a diaphragm 52 disposed within the diaphragm housing 53. A compression spring 54 urges the diaphragm 52 toward the opposite side of the housing 53 from the connecting rod 51.

The diaphragm 52 forms a closed compartment 55' in the opposite side of the diaphragm housing from spring 54. The pipe 20 has a manually controlled valve 56 and a check valve 57 therein for controlling the pneufiuid passes through pipe 20 into diaphragm chamber 55 in the amount regulated by valve 56, to move valve actuator connecting rod 51 to the left, as indicated in dashed outline in Fig. 2, against the action of spring 54 to compress same, which will trip the toggle action mechanism and move the valves 23, 24, 25 and 26 simultaneously to the position as shown in Fig. 1, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

After the toggle mechanism and valves have moved into position as indicated in Fig. 1, air is bled out of diaphragm chamber 55 through pipe 20a, through valve 58 in a desired regulated amount, until the toggle mechaand showing the check nism and valves switch into position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

A pneumatic fluid pipe 22 is connected with a T 20d within pipe 20, which will simultaneously direct pneumatic fluid into pipe 22 leading to and through manual control valve 22a, check valve 220 and through secondary check valve 22b located below standing valve at the lower end of displacement cylinder 7 and through pipe 20 through manual control valve 56, check valve 57 into diaphragm chamber 55, when the piston valves 23, 24, 25 and 26 are in position as shown in Fig. 3.

When the piston valve 23, 24, 25 and 26, positioned on .piston rod 27, are in position as shown in Fig. 1, the pneumatic fluid will be directed from pump 16 through pneumatic supply line 17 into chamber 29 and out through pipe 19, manual control valve 19b and into and through T fitting 3, tubing 2 to exert a pressure upon the surface of the liquid within tubing 2 or displacement cham- "oer 7, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

It is to be pointed out that the present system combines both pneumatic action on the surface of the liquid within the displacement chamber to cause a positive reaction to the fluid to the extent of the pressure exerted on the surface thereof. The amount of pneumatic fluid may be controlled in several Ways so as to obtain the exact desired function. A valve 1% is provided in line 19 to control the output volume therethrough into tubing 2. Furthermore the mechanism is controlled by the outlet of pneumatic fluid from bleed valve 58 to bleed the pneumatic fluid out of chamber 55 in housing 53 to permit the reaction of spring 54 against diaphragm 52 which enables spring 54 to return the diaphragm to the right hand side of the housing 53.

The length of the stroke of connecting rod 51 is also controlled by adjustment of screw-bolts 49 and 50 to control the effective stroke length of pin 48 in slot 46.

The valve timing may be adjusted by adjusting the effective length of slot 33 by the adjustment bolt 34 and screw turnbuckle 31.

It will be seen that, by the various adjustments of valves 19]), 22a, 56 and 58, that the quantity and duration of flow of pneumatic fluid admitted into displacement cylinder 7 and below standing valve 10 may be controlled so as to effectively and efliciently operate the pump to the maximum capacity of the fluid bearing formation without over pumping" the well.

Safety stops 59 having adjustment screw 60 therein, are provided on each side of toggle lever 35, so as to regulate the maximum swing of the lever 35.

Operation In the operation of the above described well pumping device, the amount .of pneumatic fluid pressure required is dependent upon the depth of the well being pumped, and the volume at which the well is to be pumped. With the pump 16 generating the pneumatic fluid pressure and discharging into line 17, and with the valves 23, 24, 25 and 26 in the position as shown in Fig. l, the pneumatic fluid will be directed into and through chamber 29 into pipe 19 through valve 19b into and through T fitting 3 and into tubing 2, and from the tubing 2 into a displacement chamber 7 positioned within the well 1 with the customary perforated nipple 14 connected to the lower end of displacement chamber 7, the perforated nipple 14 being immersed in the liquid to be pumped, the liquid will normally rise through perforated nipple 14, axial opening upward past standing valve 10 and outward through perforated .pipe section 12 into displacement chamber 7 to rise to such height therein as dictated by the bottom hole pressure of the liquid producing strata of the well. After the liquid has risen to the predetermined height in displacement chamber 7, and with the valve 19b opened to the desired degree, pneumatic fluid pressure will be exerted on top of the surface of the liquid within the displacement chamber 7, which will .4 force liquid within the chamber to move downward into the perforated pipe section 12 to close check valve 10, thereby causing the liquid to be forced upward by holding valve 11 into secondary tubing 6 and out through a flow line 5 to a place of disposition, such as a storage tank or the like.

While this operation is being performed, the pneumatic fluid from chamber 55 is being exhausted or bled out of the chamber through the line 20a in a regulated amount by valve 58, and when the pressure within the chamber 55 becomes less than that exerted by compression spring 54, the connecting rod 51 causes pin 48 to move in slot 46 until pin 48 contacts bolt 49 and moves lever 35 against tension of spring 45 to a point past dead center, at which time the toggle spring 45 will react to snap lever 35 into the position as shown in full outline in Fig. 2, thereby switching valves 23, 24, 25 and 26 into the position as shown in Fig. 3. In so doing exhaust pipe 21 is closed and exhaust pipe 19a is opened, which will direct the pneumatic fluid from pump 16 through pipe 17 into and through chamber 29 and into pipe 20. Part of the pneumatic fluid will be directed through pipe 20a into closed chamber 55 to react upon diaphragm 52 which will cause the diaphragm to move to the left to compress spring 54 and simultaneously move connecting rod 51 to the left to move toggle lever 35 and valves 23, 24, 25, and 26 in a manner herein before described.

However, when the valves are in position as shown in Fig. 3, part of the pneumatic fluid may be directed, as desired, through pipe 22, through manual control valve 22a, through check valve 22c, through the pipe 22 to a point below check valve 10 where the secondary check valve 22b, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, is located, and with the pneumatic fluid exhausting through pipe 19 and out through chamber 28 and exhaust pipe 19a, the pressure will be relieved from the upper surface of the liquid within displacement chamber 7. And, with the pneumatic fluid being admitted into passage 15 under pressure of pump 16, a jetting action to draw fluid from the reservoir of the producing strata to be directed upward into displacement chamber 7 and when the pressure within the diaphragm chamber 7 exceeds the pressure in secondary tubing 6, the aerated fluid, that is, the liquid being pumped with the pneumatic fluid mixed therewith, will flow upward therethrough and into and through flow line 5 to the place of disposition. However, the volume of pneumatic fluid injected to a point below check valve 10 may be controlled by manual control valve 22a and the duration of injection may be controlled by valves 56 and 58.

The pneumatic fluid may be directed outward through check valve 22b, either for a period sufficiently long to fill the displacement chamber 7 to the desired level at a pressure less than the pressure Within secondary flow tubing 6', or, if desired, the pneumatic fluid may be injected sufficiently long to fill the flow chamber to the desired level and to exceed the pressure within secondary tubing 6 to cause a lifting of the fluid by aeration, as hereinbefore described.

It is to be pointed out that this system may be used with or without the aeration of the fluid, but upon closing the valve 2211, which does not hamper or restrain the use of the positive displacement system, which may be desirable to use without the aeration. Or, by closing valve 19b, the aeration system may be used independently of the positive displacement pump.

It is to be further pointed out that this system is so versatile that it may be used in wells of any depth, and in wells that are producing liquid bearing a large quantity of sand, as there are no moving piston parts exposed to the action of the sand and that the equipment is so designed as to operate over a long period of time with a minimum of care and expense due to replacement of parts.

While the invention has been described in some detail in the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that changes may be made in the minor details of constructions, and adaptations made to different installations without departing from the spirit of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a timing device for a combination jet and positive fluid displacement well pumping device, a diaphragm casing, a diaphragm mounted within the casing, a connecting rod secured to the diaphragm and extending outwardly therefrom, a spring telescoped over the connecting rod and extending to move the diaphragm in one direction, said diaphragm casing having the side opposite the connecting rod sealed with respect to said diaphragm and forming a chamber, a multi-ported slide valve having a stem linked loosely to the connecting rod, an inlet port in said valve for connection with a soucre of pneumatic pressure supply, an outlet conduit leading from the slide valve to the diaphragm chamber, a second port in the slide valve adapted to be connected to a positive displacement fluid pump chamber, an adjustable valve for bleeding pressure form the diaphragm chamber to cause movement of the diaphragm under the influence of the spring, snap-acting toggle means interposed between and connected to the stem of the slide valve and to the connecting rod for rapidly shifting the slide valve between alternate porting positions to supply pressure alternately to the diaphragm chamber and to the second port, said toggle means including a lever fixed pivotally at one end and connected pivotally at its other end to a pivoted rod having a spring telescoped thereon under tension, said lever having a pair of elongated transverse slots in which the adjacent ends of the connecting rod and of the stem of the slide valve are arranged to have sliding movement to provide the loose linkage between them, and adjustable stops mounted in said elongated slots for limiting said sliding movement to set the slide valve in proper porting positions.

2. The apparatus defined by claim 1 wherein an adjusting nut is provided on the pivoted rod for controlling the tension of the spring telescoped thereon, and adjustable stops are provided on opposite sides of the toggle lever for limiting the pivotal movement thereof, thereby providing additional adjustments for the shifting speed and the porting positions of the slide valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 942,145 Preslar Dec. 7, 1909 1,295,638 Triggs Feb. 25, 1919 1,317,921 Gregory Oct. 7, 1919 1,779,251 Redfield Oct. 21, 1930 1,780,538 Redfield Nov. 4, 1930 2,364,626 Emerson Dec. 12, 1944 2,439,016 Meidenbauer Apr. 6, 1948 2,609,833 Watson Sept. 9, 1952 2,695,765 Abdo Nov. 30, 1954 

